March Favourites: Camilla

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Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator

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This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise! I wrote about this in my recent ‘Currently Loving: Drugstore Edition’ post and have used it every single day since I bought it. I have been playing around with it a bit and have tried mixing it with a few of my foundations to see which one gives me the glowiest finish. Although the MAC Mineralise Moisture Foundation + Skinlights does create a beautiful effect, I have to say that the real winning combination is Clarins True Radiance Foundation + Skinlights. Wow. This foundation imparts a youthful glow all on its own, but with a drop of Skinlights added to it, it really does make the skin look utterly radiant. Look into this.

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer

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I very rarely wear primers…in fact, I can’t remember the last time I wore one. So when Jules told me recently that not only does she always wear a primer, but sometimes more than one at a time,  I decided to investigate (in case you were wondering, she’s my biggest beauty enabler too, so we’re in the same boat). She highly recommended the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer, which she spoke about in her February Favourites so I decided to follow her advice and treat. my. self. I cannot believe what a huge difference it has made to my make-up application and how much it prolongs the wear of my foundation and concealer – I put my face on at 6:30am and everything still looks peachy keen when I take it off at night (sometimes as late at 10pm/11pm *winces*). If that isn’t something to write home about, then I don’t know what is.

Body Brush

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Dry brushing. Do you do it? I didn’t until very recently and I’m here to tell you that if you aren’t doing it, you should (PEER PRESSURE). It basically involves circulating a natural fibre brush all over your dry limbs for a couple of minutes pre-shower to stimulate circulation and slough away dead skin cells. You can either work the brush in long strokes, or in circular motions, but the most important thing is to work the brush in the direction of your heart in order to keep your lymphatic system moving. It feels a little bit weird and scratchy at first, but the results are so worth it, I promise! After I’ve dry-brushed and showered, I apply a body oil (currently loving the Nivea Q10 Plus Firming Body Oil) onto my skin while it’s still wet and dab myself dry with a towel. I like to do the whole process at night because body oil during the day is too slippy and uncomfortable, and also, I’m too sleepy in the mornings to be bothered with dry brushing. I pop on my PJ’s, let the oil sink in, and in the morning my skin is baby soft. I can say without question that the dry brushing has improved the texture of my skin and has almost eliminated my keratosis pilaris.

I searched high and low for a body brush that didn’t have an annoying handle (if a handle doesn’t bother you, then head to the Body Shop – they do a good one) and I eventually found one with a removable handle from Dishcem and it was dirt cheap – I think R36.00. However, apparently Mama Mio are releasing stock of their Body Brush in the next couple of weeks, so I think I might upgrade.

Get on it, ladies. And if not for yourself, then do it for a person who touches your body on the regular. You/they are welcome!

REN ClearCalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask

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I have been ploughing through my charcoal/clay-based masks recently. I somehow managed to finish the Aesop Parsley Seed Mask,  Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask AND the Glamglow SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment all within a few weeks of each other. Although I loved them all and would definitely repurchase (although maybe not the Glamglow one as it costs R880 *insert screaming face emoji here*), I’m always on the lookout for different products to try, so I decided to give the REN ClearCalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask a go.  If you’ve used traditional charcoal/clay masks before, you’ll know that removing them can be a real pain, literally. Luckily this one doesn’t actually dry/set, so it’s a total breeze to remove – one swipe with a warm washcloth and everything is gone. Lovely. It definitely helped zap a blemish I could feel brewing under my skin, and it calmed the redness around my nose and on my cheeks. Can’t ask for much more than that, can you?

Avène Tolérance Extrême*

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This rich, soothing moisturiser is formulated to hydrate the skin, restore its barrier and reduce reactivity. It’s 100% sterile and contains no preservatives or fragrances so it’s safe for even the most allergic of skin types. My skin is by no means allergic, but it sometimes needs a break from all the lotions and potions I slap onto it daily and requires a little extra TLC. This cream is that TLC. It is simple, comforting, calming and hydrating – all the things my skin needs when it’s fed up with all the active ingredients I try and force on it. The equivalent of cloaking your face in a soft, snuggly blanket – very pleasing.

Natural Lab Rose Lavender Hand Wash*

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Natural Lab is a South African company which has created a small line of personal care products which are formulated without parabens, petroleum or sulphates, and contain no artificial colourants, fragrances or preservatives (and, most importantly, they don’t test on animals). We were sent a few goodies to try recently and this hand wash has become a firm favourite of mine and will always be a staple in my bathroom from now on. My biggest gripe with hand washes is that they can be quite drying, and if I don’t apply hand cream afterwards, my hands feel uncomfortable. However, this offering from Natural Lab isn’t drying in the slightest and my hands feel, and smell, great after I’ve washed them.

This 500ml bottle retails for only R99.95 – so affordable and it will last you ages. If you want to learn more about the brand and where to find their products, you can visit their website here.

*PR Sample